Carsebridge 1982 The Grainman 33 Year Old

The Meadowside Blending Company was established in 2011 by Donald Hart and his son Andrew. Donald was a veteran in thew whisky business, having previously run the Hart Brothers company with his siblings, Iain and Alistair. The family sold the Hart Brothers company in 2007, but were not absent from the independent bottling scene for long. The Maltman is their flagship brand, and has produced a number of renowned single cask releases.

This is a 33 year old Carsebridge, distilled in December 1982 and bottled under their The Grainman banner in June 2016. One of 252 bottles drawn from a single bourbon cask.

The history of Carsebridge dates back to 1798 when it was built by John Bald in order to produce malt whisky. The decision to convert to grain production was made by his son, an astute businessman known as John 'The Politic' Bald II. He installed two coffey stills and transformed it into one of the largest whisky producers in Scotland. The distillery was one of the founding members of DCL in 1877, securing its future for the next 100 years. Sadly, it was surplus to the requirements of DCL's new owners, Guinness, and it was closed in 1983. It is now demolished, and it was not officially bottled as a single grain until over 30 years after its closure. Independent labels like this have always provided the best opportunity to try its elusive unblended spirit.